Review on Margo's got money troubles by Rufi Thorpe

"Margo’s Got Money Trouble" by Rufi Thorpe is a frustrating and vulgar read. The story follows 19-year-old Margo, who becomes pregnant by her professor, Mark. She decides to keep the baby, despite receiving no financial or emotional support from either Mark or her single mother Shyanne. Margo's father, Jinx, is a former wrestler and a drug addict. Initially upset about Margo's involvement in pornography, he eventually condones her choices when high on heroin. It’s hard to imagine any father accepting their daughter’s decision to make porn videos. Margo's friends, like Suzie, who films these videos, and KC and Rose, who appear in them, add to this disturbing narrative.

 Another character, JB, enters the story through Margo’s OnlyFans page. He becomes close to her, eventually developing feelings, but later decides he doesn’t want to be in a romantic or physical relationship with her. Instead, he proposes they start a business together—finding and creating content for clients on sites like OnlyFans. Margo would advise on marketing, as she's an expert in the field, while JB handles coding. He even acknowledges that they might look like pimps, and shockingly, Margo agrees, saying that the money they would make is worth it. This entire subplot further highlights the lack of morality and adds to the already unsettling tone of the book.

 This book left me feeling disgusted. The blurb describes it as "bold, laugh-out-loud funny, and heartwarming," but I find it hard to see anything funny or heartwarming about a story centered around such questionable decisions. Bold? Yes. But funny? Hardly. Never judge a book by its cover—the cover and title seemed promising, but the story was a massive letdown.

 The only reason I gave it two stars is because Margo, despite her circumstances, doesn’t abort her baby and fights to gain custody of her child, showing some strength and resilience. However, the vulgarity, language, and poor choices throughout the book overshadow any positive message. Women should face the world with dignity, not be reduced to a laughing stock.

 I regret reading this book and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. The first half is weird, with annoying language and vulgar content, and I kept hoping the story would improve. Unfortunately, it only got worse. Just when it seemed like Margo might turn her life around and pursue a career in real estate, her plans are derailed after an encounter with her mother. Overall, it sets a poor example and left me feeling annoyed and disappointed.

My rating: ⭐⭐